Catania closes the season on 90 calls, sees interporting grow

The data was shared by Raffaella Del Prete, GM of Global Ports Holding’s Italian ports (Catania, Cagliari, Taranto and Crotone) this morning in a ceremony marking the end of the cruise season. It was held at, and organised by, the cruise port with Global Ports’ COO Stephen Xuereb in attendance, as well as local authorities and members of the press.

Pandemic recovery

Catania, a member of MedCruise, received 21 calls and around 14,000 passengers in 2021 compared with the 113 calls and 208,509 passengers recorded by Catania/Augusta in 2019.

For 2023, it is set for 90 calls and 150,000 passengers.

Del Prete explained it was indicative of the sector’s recovery from the pandemic, explaining that ‘with intense marketing and collaboration work with local institutions’ the port ‘has managed to quickly resume performance and important volumes.’

She went on to thank Global Ports, adding, ‘we are working hard to ensure that this growth is confirmed and accentuated in 2023 and in the years to come.’

Trends

Costa-, TUI- and AIDA Cruises most frequented the port, which documented calls by 14 luxury and premium cruise lines, including Regent Seven Seas-, Sea Cloud- and Emerald Cruises. 

Notable growth was recorded in the numbers of cruise ships interporting, one of these being Costa Pacifica which called at the port every Sunday from June to September.

Environmentally friendly shore excursions such as visits to Mount Etna and Alcantara Gorges were among the most popular, in addition to tours rich in history, art and culture including Taormina and Syracuse, and the city itself counting its historic centre.